Apple in talks to offer unlimited downloads of purchased music
Apple Inc. is in talks with record companies to give iTunes music buyers easier access to their songs on multiple devices.
According to sources, Apple is negotiating with music companies, including Vivendi SA’s Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group Corp. and EMI Group Ltd. An agreement may be announced by midyear.
The arrangement would give users more flexibility in how they access purchased music. Apple and the record labels are eager to maintain demand for digital downloading in the middle of rising popularity for Internet services such as Pandora Media Inc., which don’t sell tracks and instead let users stream songs from the Web with whatever the device.
Sources added that a deal would provide iTunes customers with a permanent backup of music purchases if the originals are damaged or lost. The service would also enable downloads to iPad, iPod and iPhone devices linked to the same iTune’s account. The move would be a step closer to universal access to content centrally stored on the Internet.
Sony expands Music Unlimited service
Sony Corp. has expanded its digital music service, Music Unlimited, to France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Music Unlimited, which launched in the U.K. and Ireland in December, is a cloud-based, digital music service that gives access to a catalogue of millions of songs from major labels including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and EMI Music as well as independent labels and publishers world-wide.
Users can play music through Internet-connected Sony devices including Sony’s 2010 and 2011 models of network-enabled BRAVIA TV, Blu-ray Disc player, Blu-ray Disc Home Theater system, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system as well as VAIO and other personal computers.
According to Kazuo Hirai, President of Networked Products & Services Group, Sony,Music Unlimited will not only enhance customers’ Sony devices by unifying their music experiences and content, but will further open up access, create music discovery opportunities and spawn new listening possibilities for customers.
Virgin Media set to associate with Spotify
If reports are to be believed, Virgin Media is close to signing a streaming music partnership with Spotify after it’s talks to offer unlimited downloads collapsed. The licensing negotiations with EMI, Warner Music and Sony Music Entertainment to make unlimited downloads available within an ISP package have hit a brick wall and so Virgin was forced to reconsider its music strategy.
Virgin has already signed a deal with Universal Music Group in June 2009 when it announced its plans to move into music downloads. Sources quoted above suggest Virgin is some way off signing up the other three majors. With these three companies blocking the deal, it is believed that it will take a further 12-18 month for Virgin Media to establish its own service so it has looked to other companies, namely Spotify, to partner with and offer a music service in the meantime.
Beggars Group head of digital Simon Wheeler outlined reservations about Virgin’s unlimited model at MidemNet in January this year. According to him, the model must first be put through a controlled trial so labels could better understand the impact such an offering would have on their core consumers’ spending.
According to sources, Virgin is very keen to get something off the ground, so while it can’t launch its own service; it has been looking to partner with a music service and is set to launch a new offering with Spotify. Its own music service has gone on the backburner for the time being.
According to another source, Spotify and Virgin Media are close to concluding a partnership deal. The finer details are not yet known, but Spotify will be offering new tools and content exclusively to Virgin customers as part of the arrangement.
According to a spokesperson from Spotify, the company is in continuing talks with a wide range of companies, including various ISPs, as they look to bring Spotify to more and more music lovers. However the company has no deal in place with a UK ISP.
Nokia launches music service in China
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Comes With Music service has been launched by handset maker Nokia in China which includes music from the major global labels like Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, EMI Music. Besides, a host of local independent labels, including Huayi Brothers Media Group and Taihe Rye are also included in the catalogue.
A range of devices and a nationwide retail network will make Comes With Music available to consumers across China. Unlimited music downloads with the purchase of any one of eight devices will be obtained by the consumers at the time of the launch. These eight devices include Nokia X6 32GB and Nokia X6 16GB, Nokia 5230, Nokia 5330, Nokia 5800w, Nokia 6700s, Nokia E52 and Nokia E72i.
EUR 140 is the entry level price excluding local taxes and subsidies. Nokia will launch this service in India in future.
IMImobile to provide music service to Irish operator Meteor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Irish operator Meteor has selected DaVinci platform of India based IMImobile to power its full track music download service. The service will offer subscribers with 1.4 million DRM free tracks across PCs
and mobile handsets besides allowing them to share music across any device.
The music library is made from 2,000 independent labels, Sony BMG, EMI, Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group. The service is compatible with 1,500 handsets and will be available immediately.
According to Director of advanced product development at Meteor, Elaine Robinson, the new service will allow the subscribers to first to listen to music on the devices and will be charged only once.
The deal is also very significant for IMI based in India and expanding its roots aggressively in Europe since past 12 months. According to the head of IMImobile Europe, Anu Shah, the company is looking forward to work with Meteors and provide them with outstanding service.
